Safety-cradle for dropping life-boats.



T. A. POWERS, J. R. HARVEY & J. W. CROWLEY. SAFETY CRADLE FOR DROPPING LIFE BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1913.

1,107, 109, Patented Aug. 11,1914.

KM I (1527665 (1/! Crow e THE NORRIS PETERS C0, F'HO70-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, D d.

UNITED STATES PATENT oE ro THOMAS ANDREW POWERS, JAMES RICHARD HARVEY, AND JAMES WILLIAM CROWLEY, 0F SUBIAGO, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA.

SAFETY-CRADLE FOR DROPPING LIFE-BOATS:

Specification of ietter s Patent. 1

Application filed June 2, 1913. Serial No. 771,287.

wealth of Australia, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Safety- Cradles for Dropping Life-Boats, of whic the following is a specification.

The present invention. relates to safety devices for lowering life boats from the sides or decks of a ship, and it comprehends, briefly, the provision of an improved support in the nature of a cradle, which is adapted to receive the boat and to be safely and reliably lowered, with the same therein, into the water in any kind of weather and from either a moving or a stationary ship.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved cradle, a portion of the outer shell being broken away to disclose the inner shell; Fig. 2 is an end elevation; and Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the guides for the inner shell.

The boat is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in dotted lines.

As represented in said drawing, the cradle consists of inner and outer shells at and b, which are of open or slatted or barred construetion and are open at their ends. These shells, and particularly the inner shell a, have, otherwise, approximately the same contour and cross-sectional shape as the boat 0, the latter being held or seated in the said shell a. Both shells are braced and strengthened by the employment of ribs or stays, which are a'HiXed thereto in any desired manner and at suitable points and are indicated by the reference characters (Z and e, the ribs or stays at being applied to the inner shell a, and the ribs or stays e to the outer shell I).

The inner shell is resiliently supported within the outer shell, so as to permit it to move freely vertically therein, and devices are also provided for guiding the said inner shell during such movement. The resilient support preferably consists, as shown, of series of springs f which are interposed between suitable brackets attached to the shells, on both sides thereof, as depicted in Fig. 2. These springs may be of any suitable type, and any desired number of them may be employed. They act as a buffer or cushion for absorbing shocks incidental to the lowering of the cradle into the water, and to the impact of the latter thereagainst. The aforementioned guides consist, by reference, of a pluralityof vertical ro s g, which are fastened to the outer shell 6 at opposite sides thereof, and extend loosely through apertured projections provided upon theupper edges of the inner shell a,

as shown in Fig. 3, the said rods themselves being braced and supported by their passage through collar-like brackets j affixed to the sides of the said outer shell.

In operation, the cradle, with the loaded life boat therein,is lowered from the davits in the ordinary manner, the spring cushion taking up any shock which may be incurred when the cradle strikes the water. The

cradle then instantly sinks, owing to its open construction, leaving the boat resting squarely in the water, after which it may be hauled up upon the deck of the ship for further use. As the boat is lowered with the cradle directly into the water, a smooth basin, so to speak, is formed or produced around the boat, due to the entrance of the water between the slats or bars of which the shells are composed, as above stated, thus enabling the boat to be immediately rowed away from the side of the ship.

We claim 1. A safety launching cradle for life-boats comprising inner and outer boat-shaped shells, the former of which is ada ted to contain the life-boat and is yiel ingly supported.

2. A safety launching cradle for lifeboats, comprising an outer shell, an inner shell adapted to contain the life-boat and arranged within the outer shell for movement relatively thereto in a vertical direction, and means for cushioning said inner shell during such movement.

3. A safety launching cradle for lifeboats, comprising an outer shell, an inner shell adapted to contain the life-boat and arranged within the outer shell for movement relatively thereto in a vertical direction, and means for guiding said inner shell during such movement.

4:. A safety launching cradle for life- Patented Aug. 11, 1914.,

boats, comprising an outer shell, an inner shell adapted to contain the life-boat and arranged within .the outer shell for movement relatively thereto in a vertical direction, and means for cushioning and guiding ment relatively thereto in a vertical direction, and means for cushioning said inner shell during such movement, both of said shells'being constructed of bars or slats arr-angedin spaced relation, to permit the entrance-of water between the spaces when the cradle is lowered into the water.

'6. A safety launching cradle for lifeboats, comprising an outer shell, an inner shell adapted to contain the life-boat and arranged within the outer shell for movement relatively thereto in a vertical direction, and means for guiding said inner shell during such movement, both of said shells being constructed of bars or slats arranged in spaced relation, to permit the entrance of water between the spaces when the cradle is lowered into the water.

7. A safety launching cradle for life-- boats, comprising an outer shell, an inner shell adapted to contain the life-boat and arranged within the outer shell for movement relatively thereto in a vertical direction, and means for cushioning and guiding said inner shell during such movement, both of said shells being constructed of bars or slats arranged in spaced. relation, to permit the entrance of water between the spaces when the cradle is lowered into the water.

8. A safety launching cradle for lifeboats comprising inner and outer skeleton shells, the former of which is adapted to contain the life-boat, and a resilient cushion for the inner shell.

9. A safety launching cradle for lifeboats, comprising inner and outer skeleton shells, the former of which is adapted to contain the life-boat, and a series of springs interposed between said shells for yieldingly supporting the inner shell.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS ANDRElV POlVERS. JAMES RICHARD HARVEY. JAMES WILLIAM CROWVLEY.

Witnesses:

RICHARD SPARROW, FREDERICK CHARLES WALTHAM.

, Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents,

' Washington, D. C. 

